Holiday 2015: Tablet gift guide (in pictures)

Considered by many to be the flagship tablet, and the device that's set the standards that others try to match up to.

Pros:

• Premium product
• Vast iOS apps ecosystem
• Excellent range of accessories
• Powerful hardware
• Excellent display
• Ideal for someone who already has an iPhone
• Touch ID makes accessing it quick and easy

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not particularly robust
• No microSD card slot

Alternatives:

• The First-generation iPad Air for $100 less

Price: Starting at $499.99

Google's pure Android offering just keeps on getting better and better. This latest incarnation brings high-end hardware to consumers at a reasonable price.

Pros:

• High-end hardware
• Excellent display
• Competitively priced
• Access to Android updates and upgrades

Cons:

• Flimsy design
• No micro SD card slot

Alternatives:

• Google Nexus 7

Price: Starting at $299.99

If you want to run Windows as opposed to Android or iOS, then Microsoft's new Surface Pro 4 tablet is well worth taking a look at.

Pros:

• Powerful hardware
• Runs Window, so you can use all your favorite applications
• Excellent keyboard (optional)
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Gets expensive at the higher end of the spectrum
• Microsoft's app store is nowhere near as comprehensive as the one on iOS or Android

Alternatives:

• Surface Pro 3 starting at $499
• Surface Book starting at $1499

Price: Starting at $899

A middle-of-the-road tablet from Amazon. Ideally suited to those who are more interested in consuming than creating content.

Pros:

• High-quality hardware
• Access to a vast ecosystem of apps and content
• Wide range of accessories

Cons:

• Restricted to the Amazon ecosystem
• Accessory ecosystem much smaller than available for the iPad
• No micro SD card

Alternatives:

• The larger Fire HD 10 for $199.99
• The budget Fire HD 6 for $99
• The super-budget Fire for a mere $49

Price: Starting at $149.99

Like the iPad Air 2, only smaller.

Pros:

• Compact design
• $100 cheaper than the full-sized iPad
• Runs the same apps as the full-sized iPad
• Touch ID

Cons:

• Smaller choice of cases and keyboards

Alternatives:

• The iPad Mini 2

Price: Starting at $399.99

This is a tablet specifically designed for people who like to read ebooks.

Pros:

• High resolution e-Ink display
• Lower eyestrain than traditional displays
• Perfect for day and night
• Battery lasts weeks, not days
• Lightweight

Cons:

• No apps
• Only really useful as an ebook reader
• Grayscale display

Alternatives:

• The 6-inch Kindle ebook reader for $79.99
• High-end Kindle Voyager for $199.99
• Kindle for Kids, featuring 2-year accident cover for $99.99

Price: Starting at $119.99

Pros:

• Strong brand
• High-quality 10.5-inch display
• Powerful hardware
• Thin and light
• Can be picked up for well under $400
• Ideal for content consumption

Cons:

• System becomes laggy if pushed
• 2014 hardware

Alternatives:

• iPad Air 4

Price: From about $360

A 7-inch Amazon Kindle tablet that's been kid-proofed.

Pros:

• Kid-proofed tablet
• No-questions-asked 2 year accident exchange policy
• Low price
• Built-in micro SD card slot
• Easy to use parental controls
• Access to a wide range of kid-friendly content

Cons:

• Expect to spend money on content and apps!

Alternatives:

• iPad Mini 2
• Amazon Fire HD 8

Price: $99.99

A slim, waterproof and dustproof tablet that's highly customizable and offers superb performance.

Pros:

• Powerful hardware
• Water and dust proof (ideal for the kitchen or workshop)

Cons:

• Expensive
• Optional keyboard is pretty dismal

Alternatives:

• Get a waterproof case for any other tablet

Price: Starting at $620